Walmart To Pay $7.5 Million For Discrimination Against LGBTQ Workers

Written by
E-Li

Walmart agreed to pay $7.5 million after being sued by a couple of women, Jacqueline Cote, a store employee, and her wife, arguing that Walmart discriminated against same-sex employees.

The LGBTQ employees of the company found that they could not extend the health insurance benefits to their partners, which could constitute an infringement of the federal civil rights law and the Massachusetts law.

The Employment Opportunity Commission confirmed the guilt of Walmart.

The company and the couple have reached an agreement and Walmart will pay $7.5 million, which will be distributed among the 1,100 employees involved in the discrimination (the number of employees given by the Wall Street Journal remains to be confirmed).

"I’m pleased that Walmart was willing to resolve this issue for me and other associates who are married to someone of the same sex," Cote said. "It’s a relief to bring this chapter of my life to a close.

Sally Welborn, senior vice president of Walmart's Global Benefits, also added: "We are pleased that both parties can meet to reach a resolution. Respect for the individual, diversity and inclusion are among the fundamental values that made Walmart in the society it is today."